Multi-tool

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Bicycle multi-tool folded (left) and unfolded Lezyne Carbon 10 collage.jpg
Bicycle multi-tool folded (left) and unfolded
Two multi-tools from Codex Loffelholz, Nuremberg 1505 Loffelholz-Codex Ms-Berol-Germ-Qu-132 Fol 037v.png
Two multi-tools from Codex Löffelholz, Nuremberg 1505
Victorinox SwissTool Victorinox Multitool.jpg
Victorinox SwissTool

A multi-tool (or multitool) is a hand tool that combines several individual functions in a single unit. The smallest are credit-card or key sized units designed for carrying in a wallet or on a keyring, but others are designed to be carried in a trouser pocket or belt-mounted pouch.

Contents

History

The idea of incorporating several tools in one unit is very old, dating back at least as far as Middle Roman times. [1] Many of these were used for eating.

Pocket knives

Among the earliest contemporary examples is the Swiss Army knife, as supplied by makers Victorinox and Wenger. The actual version supplied to the Swiss army includes a knife blade, a reamer, a bottle-openerscrewdriverwire stripper, and a can-opener–screwdriver. Besides Victorinox and Wenger, many other manufacturers now make similar knives.

Other versions may include items like a nail file, tweezers, folding scissors, a tooth pick, a magnifying glass, screwdriver bits and others. There are also versions that have special tools for specific sports or outdoor activities like golf, horseback riding, shooting, hunting or fishing. Versions intended for cyclists may have a selection of allen (hex) keys, a selection of wrenches, screwdrivers, a spoke wrench, and a chain tool.

Folding multi-tools

Leatherman Pocket Survival Tool Leatherman.jpg
Leatherman Pocket Survival Tool

In 1983 Tim Leatherman sold his first "Pocket Survival Tool", ⁣ [2] larger and more robust than a pocket-knife-based tool, and incorporating a set of needle-nosed pliers in a butterfly knife-style mechanism. Too large for most pockets, it came with a belt pouch.

Other multi-tools

Survival Card Survival Card.jpg
Survival Card

Other multi-tool functions include a hammer, [3] LED light, lighter, [4] tape measure and an assortment of screwdriver bits.

Multifunction tools may be specialized for use in certain activities. Cyclists may carry a folding tool with screwdriver bits or wrenches to allow adjustment of bicycle fasteners during a ride, or for repairing a broken chain. For sport fishermen, a specialized multitool may combine common functions such as cutting fishing line, crimping weights, removing hooks or opening split rings. A specialized multitool may be used for adjustment, cleaning or minor repair of a firearm in field use. Since 2007, smartphones have emerged as a popular multi-tool category.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Utility knife</span> Knife used for general or utility purposes

A utility knife is any type of knife used for general manual work purposes. Such knives were originally fixed-blade knives with durable cutting edges suitable for rough work such as cutting cordage, cutting/scraping hides, butchering animals, cleaning fish scales, reshaping timber, and other tasks. Craft knives are small utility knives used as precision-oriented tools for finer, more delicate tasks such as carving and papercutting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knife</span> Tool or weapon with a cutting edge or blade

A knife is a tool or weapon with a cutting edge or blade, usually attached to a handle or hilt. One of the earliest tools used by humanity, knives appeared at least 2.5 million years ago, as evidenced by the Oldowan tools. Originally made of wood, bone, and stone, over the centuries, in step with improvements in both metallurgy and manufacturing, knife blades have been made from copper, bronze, iron, steel, ceramic, and titanium. Most modern knives have either fixed or folding blades; blade patterns and styles vary by maker and country of origin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Screwdriver</span> Hand tool used for turning screws

A screwdriver is a tool, manual or powered, used for turning screws.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swiss Army knife</span> Multi-tool pocketknife manufactured by Victorinox

The Swiss Army knife is a pocketknife, generally multi-tooled, now manufactured by Victorinox. The term "Swiss Army knife" was coined by American soldiers after World War II after they had trouble pronouncing the German word "Offiziersmesser", meaning "officer’s knife".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leatherman</span> American brand of Swiss Army Knife and multi-tool

Leatherman is an American brand of Multi-Tool made by Leatherman Tool Group of Portland, Oregon. The company was founded in July 1983 by Timothy S. Leatherman and Steve Berliner in order to market the former's idea of a capable, easily portable hand tool with multiple functions. That same year, Leatherman Tool Group sold its first Multi-Tool, which was called the PST.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victorinox</span> Swiss knife manufacturer and watchmaker

Victorinox is a knife manufacturer and watchmaker based in the town of Ibach, in the Canton of Schwyz, Switzerland. It is well known for its Swiss Army knives. The Swiss Army knives made by Victorinox are made of a proprietary blend hardened steel from Germany and France. Since its acquisition of rival Wenger in 2005, it has become the sole supplier of multi-purpose knives to the Swiss army. It is the world's biggest manufacturer of pocket knives; additionally, the company licenses its logo for watches, apparel, and travel gear.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wenger</span> Swiss Army knife manufacturer

Wenger was a Swiss cutlery manufacturer that exists today as a brand of once-rival Victorinox, used for knives, watches and licensed products. Founded in 1893, it was best known as one of two companies to manufacture Swiss Army knives. Based in Delémont, Wenger was acquired in 2005 by Victorinox and partially absorbed. Since 2013 Wenger Swiss Army knives have been integrated in the Victorinox collection as the "Delémont collection".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pocketknife</span> Knife that can be carried in a pocket

A pocketknife is a knife with one or more blades that fold into the handle. They are also known as jackknives (jack-knife), folding knives, EDC knife, or may be referred to as a penknife, though a penknife may also be a specific kind of pocketknife. A typical blade length is 5 to 15 centimetres.

A gravity knife is a knife with a blade contained in its handle, and that opens its blade through the force of gravity. This mechanism of opening is fundamentally different from the switchblade, which extends its spring-propelled blade automatically upon the push of a button, switch, or fulcrum lever. The main purpose of gravity opening is that it allows opening and closing to be done one handed, in situations where the other hand is occupied. Hence, historically they have been issued to parachutists to cut off caught lines, such as lines tangled in trees, a major potential use of the gravity knife.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerber multitool</span>

A Gerber multitool is a compact Multi-tool made by Gerber Legendary Blades, part of the Fiskars Corporation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerber Legendary Blades</span> American maker of knives, multitools, and outdoors products

Gerber Legendary Blades is an American maker of knives, multitools, and other tools for outdoors and military headquartered in Portland, Oregon. Gerber is owned by the Finnish outdoors products company Fiskars. Gerber was established in 1939 by Pete Gerber.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liner lock</span> Locking mechanism for folding pocket knives

The Linerlock is a locking mechanism for folding pocket knives. A Linerlock is a folding knife with a side-spring lock that can be opened and closed with one hand without repositioning the knife in the hand. The lock is self-adjusting for wear. The modern Linerlock traces its lineage to the late 19th century, but in the 1980s the design was improved by American custom knifemaker Michael Walker.

The Warrior knife is a large curved blade fighting knife with a serrated back edge that was first made by Al Mar Knives and Round Eye Knife and Tool (REKAT). Part of the knife's design is credited to martial arts instructor Michael Echanis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wera Tools</span> German tool manufacturer

Wera Tools is the popular name for tool manufacturer Wera Werkzeuge GmbH with headquarters in Cronenberg and production in Bystřice nad Pernštejnem and Třebíč in the Czech Republic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stanley Hand Tools</span> Brand of hand tools; division of Stanley Black & Decker

Stanley Hand Tools is a brand of hand tools. It is a division of Stanley Black & Decker, following the merger of The Stanley Works with Black & Decker in March 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seitengewehr 42</span>

The Seitengewehr 42, otherwise known as the Seitengewehr Modell 42 or in English the Bayonet Model 1942, was developed in 1942 by Wilhelm Gustloff Werke and manufactured by Carl Eickhorn in Solingen. According to its description, the Gustloff Company and its chief designer, Carl Barnitzke, got a German patent 766198 in October 1942 for an Armeemesser according to its description. The SG 42 was intended to supplement and later replace the original S84/98 III bayonet of the Karabiner 98k service rifle. The Seitengewehr 42 was designed as a multi-tool combat knife, but could also be mounted as a bayonet on the Karabiner 98k. The S84/98 III bayonet itself was a proven design, but there was a shortage of utility knives in the German military, which were usually procured privately.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ballpoint pen knife</span> Multi-tool pocket knife with a concealed blade

A ballpoint pen knife is a multi-tool pocket knife consisting of a blade concealed inside an ordinary-looking ballpoint pen. The blade, typically 50 to 125 millimetres long, is hidden when not in use. They first appeared as custom-made pens from various custom knife makers, and were later mass-produced by other companies.

The Blade Show is an annual tradeshow for the cutlery industry. It is the largest event of its type in the world. The show is owned by Caribou Media Group and is hosted by Blade Magazine. The event has over 1,000 exhibitors and is the host for inductees into the annual Cutlery Hall of Fame. It also hosts the annual Blade HQ Balisong Competition, BladeSports International Cutting World Championships, Blade University, Knife of the Year Awards, and a variety of knifemaking classes and demos. The event takes place every year over the course of several days and brings in knifemakers and knife companies from all parts of world.

Great Neck Saw is an American company that manufactures and distributes hand tools, including wrenches, screwdrivers, hammers, chisels, and automotive specialty tools. The company is the largest privately owned tool manufacturer in the United States.

References

  1. "Roman multi-tool". Archived from the original on 2017-05-11. Retrieved 2016-03-21.
  2. "The Leatherman Story". www.leatherman.com.
  3. "- Sheffield Multi tools - Pocket Knives, Lockback Utility Knives »14-in-1 Hammer Tool". Archived from the original on 2014-07-15. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
  4. "LighterBro Turns Your Bic Lighter into a Multitool". Lifehacker. 20 February 2014.